Development of Women Related Policies and Its Implications for Future Policies Agenda in Korea

74
GSPR 2008 :: Perspective Review
Development of Women-related
Policies and its Implications for Future
Policies Agenda in Korea
by Hyunjoo Min Work & Family Research Department, KWDI
This paper reviews the development of
women’s policies in Korea with special
attention to the role of the Ministry of Gender
Equality in shaping gender policies for the past
10 years. First, this paper will introduce the
characteristics of women’s policies. Second,
this paper will discuss the achievements that
the Ministry of Gender Equality(MOGE) has
made and their impacts on changing the status
of women in the labor market and the political
sphere. Finally, this paper will discuss some
policies agenda that women-related policies
should consider to improve the quality of life
of Korean women.
1. Characteristics of Women’s
Policies
1) Women’s Rights and Interests
Korean women’s policies consist of two types
of gender issues in general: the first issue is
about improvement in women’s rights and
interests. The second issue is related to the
adoption of a gender mainstreaming
perspective in analyzing political and social
agenda.
Policies aimed at improving women’s right
and interests basically embrace the policies to
enhance safety and to promote political status
of women. Women tend to be at the risk of
sex-related violence, such as sexual violence,
domestic violence, and prostitution (sex
trafficking). Although there are legal
protections set to protect women from social
violence and risks, most women who suffer
from violence appeal that the violence tends to
be committed at home or by their
acquaintances. Further, women tend to be
excluded from legal protection. That is,
socially disadvantaged women are also subject
to the greatest risk of violence.
The policies to eliminate social
discrimination is another issue related to
women’s rights and interests. The Ministry of
Gender Equality started to investigate cases of
social discrimination against women from
1999 through 2005, and afterwards, the Human
Rights Commission has been investigating and
trying to correct the cases. Further, Korean
women’s policies have been designed to
develop women’s human resoruces and enable
them to be part of social mainstream. For this
purpose, the Ministry of Gender Equality has
offered vocational trainings for women and the
future career guidance and counseling
programs for women in college.
The forth issue concerning women’s rights
and interests includes efforts to expand the
opportunities for women to participate in the
political sphere. By applying the Affirmative
Action (AA) to public areas (such as public
servants and congressmen), the policy aims to
increase the proportion of female politicians
and thus to reinforce women’s empowerment.
Transferring domestic care work to public

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GSPR 2008 Vol.1
areas is also an issue related to women’s rights
and interests. Unpaid home care, such as
caring for children, sick family members, and
chores, tends to devaluate women’s status in
the labor market as well as at home. Further,
women who take primary responsibilities for
those unpaid home care tend to be excluded
from paid work in the labor market. Thus, a
critical issue is how we can carefully evaluate
unpaid home care and support those
careworkers, most of whom are women.
2) Gender Mainstreaming Perspectives
The Ministry of Gender Equality has tried to
adopt a “gender mainstreaming perspective” in
building and evaluating the governmental
policies. It includes gender-based analyses and
gender-sensitive budgets. That is, it not only
aims at increasing the budget to improve
women’s lives, but also aims at profoundly
changing social values and attitudes toward
men and women. Further discussion will
follow.
2. Accomplishments of Women’s
Policies
1) Adopting and Institutionalizing
Gender Mainstreaming Strategies
The need for gender-sensitive budget and its
operation for improving women-related
policies and services was discussed at the 1995
Beijing Women's Conference. The 'Gender-
sensitive budget and document request
proposal' submitted by the Gender Equality
and Family Committee of the National
Assembly was passed by the National
Assembly on November 8, 2002; and the
government launched the 'Gender-sensitive
budget analysis plan' and the 'Gender-sensitive
budget analysis.’ In 2004, gender-based
analysis was performed on 10 key policies to
review gender discrimination. In 2006, the
Ministry of Planning and Budgeting included
the instructions in the ‘Budget Guide’
requesting that budgeting reflect gender-based
analysis. But it was pointed out that building a
firm foundation for gender policy
implementation requires sharing gender
equality awareness among government
employees and that the current and future
policies must be revised in accordance with
gender-based analysis of the effects of
budgeting on each gender.
Gender-based analysis is a policy analysis
tool to facilitate formulation and
implementation of gender-equality policies.
This evaluation systematically integrates
gender and policy requirements into policy-
making process in respect with socio-
economic characteristics of each gender. In
2002, the Women's Development Act Revision
provided a legal ground for a gender-based
analysis and impelled the mandatory
implementation of gender-based analysis for
central and local governments. In 2004,
gender-based analysis was performed on
several key policies, and the analysis expanded
to 290 institutions in 2008. These efforts are
being made to alleviate the persisting gender
discrepancy at the individual policy and
project level.
2) The Expansion of Women’s
Participation in Policy-making
Process
In March 2004, the Political Party Act was
revised to increase the proportion of women’s
representation (over 50%) at the National
Assembly and at the ‘Do’/ City Council
elections. One of the Articles from the above
Act encourages political parties to assign 30%
of the local assembly candidacy nomination to

76
women.
Increasing participation of women in policy-
making process also includes increasing the
number of women and expanding women’s
role in various governmental committees. The
Women’s Development Act provided a solid
ground for women’s participation in policy-
making roles. Women’s participation in
governmental committees had only reached
2.2% in 1984, but the rate has considerably
increased since 1998, reaching 30% in 2002.
An index to evaluate whether women are
well represented in policy-making is the
proportion of women in government positions.
By establishing and performing Women’s
Employment Goals (1996~2002) and Gender
Equality Employment Goals (2003~2007), the
government has achieved a substantial increase
in women’s employment in governmental
positions.
3) Strengthening the Equal
Employment Act
Although an increasing number of women
have been entering the labor market, women
still leave the labor force at the time of
marriage and childbirth. Further, even when
women are employed, they tend to experience
various forms of discrimination in making
occupational choices, promotions, and
employment conditions such as wage. A range
of policies have been legislated to eradicate
such discriminations and establish equal
opportunity at work places. The Sexual
Equality Act of 1987 (December) provided the
foundation for gender equality in workplace by
outlining equal opportunity and treatment,
maternity protection, making work and home
compatible, improving women’s career
competence, and anti-sexual harassment
regulations. As part of these efforts,
strengthening maternity protection, sharing its
cost with the public and reforming the
protection system for women are being
proposed to secure continuity in women’s
employment. The establishment of the
MOGEF with 90-days mandatory maternity
leave and childcare leave allowance has played
a significant role in fostering women’s
employment and stabilizing women’s career.
4) Strengthening the Human Rights of
Women
An Act was legislated to bring an end to
human trafficking and to offer protection for
victims of sex-trafficking and sex peddlers.
This Act contributes to raising social
awareness of sex trafficking and punishes the
third-parties who facilitate sex trafficking.
With this effort, Korean policy to prevent sex
trafficking has reached international standards.
In addition to providing victims with legal
protection, the government offers assistance
for the rehabilitation and self-reliance of those
women wishing to leave the industry as well as
providing protection for victims of sex-
trafficking. The victim assistance programs
include counseling, legal assistance, shelter,
medical and psychological therapies, and
vocational training.
The Act on the Punishment of Sexual
Crimes and Protection of Victims thereof
(1994), the Special Act for the Punishment of
Domestic Violence, and the Prevention of
Domestic Violence and Victim Protection Act
(1997) define sexual abuse and domestic
violence as social crimes that the government
must intervene to prevent and punish by law.
Programs for prevention of sexual abuse/
domestic violence and for protection of victims
include the ‘enforcement of victim protection’
and the ‘prevention plan.’ In addition,

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GSPR 2008 Vol.1
counseling centers and shelters have been
established to offer legal, medical and
vocational training services.
3. Future Agenda for Women’s
Policies
1) Developing Women’s Human
Resources and Assisting Women
Returning to the Labor Market
The MOGE offers various programs to support
housewives who wish to return to work after
taking break from paid work due to childbirth
and child rearing. Programs include vocational
training in social service sectors such as
childcare, education, welfare, and culture to
help them to get a job at related institutions,
schools, and social welfare centers as well as
at private homes.
Building women-friendly culture in
organizations is another project for the MOGE
to increase opportunities for women who wish
to stay in the labor market and enjoy
promotion. The MOGE has developed the
“Women Friendliness Index (WFI),” and plans
to award the institutions including public and
private organizations certificates of women-
friendly institutions.
2) Protecting Women’s Human Rights
and Overall Support
One major project that the MOGE plans to
expand is the program to assist women who
immigrated to Korea through marriage.
Responding to the rapid increase in the number
of foreign women who move to Korea to get
married, the MOGE has launched a support
program for marriage-based immigrant
women. This program was designed to offer
social support for difficulties these immigrant
women might encounter, such as family
conflicts, language problems, and childbirth
and childcare. Thus, the programs contain
Korean language courses, pregnancy and
childbirth guidance, as well as childcare
courses provided in various languages such as
Chinese, Vietnamese, English and Russian.
By performing these programs, the MOGE
plans to provide more support programs to aid
marriage-based immigrant women to facilitate
their adaptation to Korea.
Another major project that the MOGE plans
to carry out is a campaign to prevent sexual
harassment against minorities including
teenagers, women and foreign workers. The
MOGE has worked to establish information
and protection service center in three major
cities (Seoul, Daegu and Gwangju) and to
operate one-stop service for victims of sexual
abuse and domestic violence.
REFERENCES
The Ministry of Gender Equality (2008). “The Role of Korean
Government in Preventing Transnational Trafficking in
Persons.”
The Ministry of Gender Equality (2008). “The Second Basic Women's
Policy Plan (2003-2007).”

78
This paper briefly presents the changes in the
life and status of Korean women by analyzing
relevant indicators.
1. Population, Family, and Health
106.1 births of male vs. 100 births of female
The indicator of sex ratio at birth is significant
in Korea which represents the status of women
since there has been a preference for sons in
childbirth throughout Korean culture.
According to the change of sex ratio at birth
for the past thirty years, the figure was the
lowest 105.3 in 1980 and the highest 116.5 in
1990. The reason why there was a disparity of
sex ratio at birth in 1980 and 1990 is revealed
when this paper focuses on sex ratio at birth by
birth order. There was no explicit difference of
sex ratio at birth by birth order in 1980 that
showed the lowest sex ratio at birth: the sex
ratio at birth among the first children, second
children, third children, and fourth children
were 106.0, 106.5, 106.9, and 110.2
respectively. However, there was a distinctive
difference of sex ratio at birth by birth order in
1990 that presented the highest sex ratio at
birth: the sex ratio at birth among the first,
second, third, and fourth children were 108.5,
117.0, 188.8, 209.2 respectively. This result
seems to be influenced by the increase of
induced abortion through medical surgery
rather than simply by a higher preference of
son in childbirth compared to other times.
There had been a gradual decline of sex ratio
at birth since 1990 and the figure in 2007 was
106.1. In case of the sex ratio at birth among
the third and fourth children in 2007, the
figures were 115.4 and 119.4 respectively.
<Table 1>
Sex Ratio at Birth by Birth Order
The total fertility rate in 2007 was
approximately 1.26 which increased by 0.13
Observing Changes in the Status of
Korean Women through Statistics
by Jaeseon Joo Gender Statistics Research Center, KWDI
Year Total
Fourth Children
and upward
First
Children
Second
Children
Third
Children
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2007
112.4
105.3
109.4
116.5
113.2
110.2
107.7
106.1
120.0
106.0
106.0
108.5
105.8
106.2
104.8
104.4
109.8
106.5
107.8
117.0
111.7
107.4
106.4
105.9
110.8
106.9
129.2
188.8
177.2
141.7
127.7
115.2
105.5
110.2
146.8
209.2
203.9
167.5
133.5
119.4
Source: Korean Women's Development Institute (2008), Women in
Korea.
Unit: %

over the previous year. The total fertility rate
in Korea had decreased from 3.74 in 1975, and
there has been a slight increase since 2006
onwards. The fertility rate of the age group
between 30~34 was 102.2 with increase of 12
over the previous year, and the figure of the
age group between 25~29 was 96.1 with
increase of 6.2 over 89.9 of the previous year.
<Table 2>
Age-specific Fertility Rate and Total
Fertility Rate
22.1% of the head of households in 2008 are
women
The number of women household heads who
have responsibility to support the members of
the household has increased by around 3.2
times from 1,169 in 1980 to 3,689 in 2008.
The increase rate of women heads of
household was far higher than that of men
albeit the number of men householders is
larger than that of women in terms of scale
since the number of men householders has
increased by about 1.9 times from 6.801 in
1980 to 12,985 in 2008. The proportion of
women heads of households has risen
moderately from 14.7% in 1980 to 22.1% in
2008.
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GSPR 2008 Vol.1
Age-specific Fertility Rate2)(per 1,000 women)
15~19 20~24 25~29 30~34 35~39 40~44 45~49
1975 14.2 177.6 262.8 145.6 57.9 20.7 5.0 3.47
1980 12.9 141.4 244.1 106.6 30.6 8.5 2.0 2.83
1990 4.2 83.2 169.4 50.5 9.6 1.5 0.2 1.59
1995 3.6 62.9 177.1 69.6 15.2 2.3 0.2 1.65
2000 2.5 39.0 150.6 84.2 17.4 2.6 0.2 1.47
2005 2.1 17.9 92.3 82.4 19.0 2.5 0.2 1.08
2006 2.2 17.7 89.9 90.2 21.5 2.6 0.2 1.13
2007 - 19.6 96.1 102.2 25.8 - - 1.26
Year
Total Fertility
Rate
Unit : Births per 1,000 women, per women
Note: 1) The average number of babies born to women during their reproductive years (age 15-49), commonly used for comparison of fertility rates.
2) The number of births in each age group by the total female population (in thousands) in each age group
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Annual Report on the Vital Statistics.

80
Figure 1. Female heads of household
Decision making by man and wife within a
household
According to a research in 2006, most
decision-makings within a household were
made jointly by the husband and the wife.
Although 65.3% of living expenses were
determined by wives in 2006, many other
agendas in household were determined jointly
by the man and the wife, such as selling and
buying a house and disposal, investment and
multiplication of a property, and childcare and
education. In case of decision making about
childcare and education which is considered
vital in recent days, the proportion of wives’
decision is 39.2% which is significantly higher
than husbands’ decision (3.1%).
Figure 2. Decision-making by Married
Couples: 2006
Married women’s contribution to house
chores (3 hours and 18 minutes) in 2004 was
7.6 times higher than married men’s
contribution (26 minutes)
Note: Survey with married households of ages from 15 to 59 years old
Source: Korea Institute for Health & Social Affairs, National Fertility and
Family Health Survey Report 2006.
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Population and Housing Census Report.
Materials in Population Projection are utilized for the figures after 2002.

Married women’s use of time for house chores
in 2004 was 3 hours and 18 minutes which was
2 hours and 52 minutes more than married men
(26 minutes) according to the Life Time Use
Survey conducted by the Korea National
Statistical Office. Though married women’s
use of time for house chores explicitly
declined when compared to the first survey in
1999, married women devoted their time 7.6
times more than married men did. In case of
unmarried men and women, the use of time for
house chores slightly increased over 1999
when it was 45 minutes and 18 minutes for
women and men respectively.
<Table 3>
Time Spent on Household Affairs by
Marital Status
International marriages account for 11.1% of
all the marriages (345,592) in 2007
The average age at first marriage in 2007 was
28.1 years old for women and 31.1 years old
for men (women’s mean age at the first
marriage is 3 years earlier than men’s age at the
first marriage) and this presents 2.7 years
increase for both men and women compared
with 1995. The number of marriages had
declined from 398,484 cases in 1995 to
316,375 cases in 2005. However, overall
345,592 couples were married in 2007,
showing increase from 2005. Recently, the
interest in multicultural family is increasing as
international marriages increase. The
proportion of international marriage was very
low (3.4%) in 1995, but the highest percentage
of international marriage was 13.6% (43,121
cases) in 2005 that presented the lowest
number of marriages, and 11.1% of all the
marriages were international marriages in 2007.
Figure 3. Mean Age at First Marriage
<Table 4>
International Marriage
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GSPR 2008 Vol.1
Note: Population of age 20 and over.
Source: Korea National Statistical Office (2000, 2005), Life Time Use
Survey.
Note: ( ) refers to the percentage of international marriages out of the
total number of marriages
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Annual Report on the Vital
Statistics.
Single Married
Total Female Male Total Female Male
1999 0:25 0:37 0:15 2:39 4:30 0:36
2004 0:30 0:45 0:18 1:58 3:18 0:26
Year
Unit: Hours
1995 398,484 13,494 (3.4) 10,365 3,129
2000 334,030 12,319 (3.7) 7,304 5,015
2005 316,375 43,121 (13.6) 31,180 11,941
2007 345,592 38,491 (11.1) 29,140 9,351
Year Total Marriages
Sub total
Wives with
different
nationality
Husbands with
different
nationality
International Marriages
Unit: Hours

82
6.9 years increase inwomen’s life expectancy
in 2006 compared to 1990
Women’s life expectancy in 2006 was 82.4
years old, which was 6.7 year longer than
men’s life expectancy (75.7 years old). This
means that 6.9 years and 8.4 years increase for
women and men respectively, compared to
1990. The gap of life expectancy between men
and women increased between 1970 and 1990:
6.9 years in 1970 and 8.2 years in 1990.
Nevertheless, the decreasing tendency of life
expectancy gap between men and women was
observed: 7.3 years in 2000 and 6.7 years in
2006.
Figure 4. Average life expectancy
2. Education
25.4 among 100 women in 2005 graduated
from college and higher
25.4% of Korean women of 25 old years of
age or order was educated in colleges or higher
education. In case of women’s educational
attainment, there were 77.1% of women who
graduated from elementary school in 1975, but
the percentage of women who were educated
lower than elementary school was 25.5% in
2005. Furthermore, the proportion of women
who graduated from high schools and colleges
and higher were 37.0% and 25.4% respectively
in 2005. Nevertheless, men whose educational
opportunities were higher than women showed
decrease among those educated at elementary
school and lower, and increase among those
educated at colleges and higher.
<Table 5>
Distribution of Women Population 25 Years
Old & Over by Educational Attainment
Women constitute 27.9% of doctoral
graduates in 2007
Korean women have presented great
development in terms of equal right for
education. The proportion of women among
those with bachelor’s degree was only 37.0%
in 1985 but the proportion increased by 12.2%
to reach 49.2% in 2007. Moreover, the
proportion of women among those who hold
mater’s degree and doctoral degree during
corresponding period increased 28.4% and
17.7% respectively. This reflects a great
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Life Table 2006.
Female 77.1 12.1 8.4 2.4
Male 53.1 17.7 9.7 9.5
Female 54.1 20.5 20.2 5.2
Male 31.9 20.5 32.1 15.5
Female 35.0 17.1 34.8 13.1
Male 17.8 14.2 41.4 26.6
Female 25.5 12.1 37.0 25.4
Male 12.2 10.2 39.7 37.8
Year, Sex
Middle
School
High
School
College
and higher
ElementarySchool
andlower
Unit: %
1975
1985
1995
2005
Note: Age 25 and over.
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Population and Housing
Census Report

change of increasing higher education for
women. There seems to be no or very slight
disparity between men and women in the
number of people who holds bachelors’ and
master’s degree due to the increase of
women’s participation in higher education.
Nevertheless, the percentage of women among
doctoral graduates was 27.9% in 2007 which
was explicitly lower than the proportion of
men doctoral graduates.
Figure 5. Degree Holders
3. Economic Activity
Women’s labor market participation 50.2% in
2007 increasing by 8.3% over 1985
The economic activity participation rate has
increased gradually although not at great
speed. Women’s labor market participation rate
reached 50% range in 2005 for the first time
from 41.9% in 1985, and the figure in 2007
was 50.2% which was 8.3% higher than that of
1985. On the other hand, men’s labor market
participation hit its peak of 76.4% in 1995, and
men’s labor market participation in 2007 was
74.0% because of gradual decline from the
peak. Although the disparity of labor market
participation between men and women
decreased from 30.4% in 1985 to 23.8% in
2007, the gap of labor market participation rate
between men and women is still wide.
Figure 6. Economic Activities by Sex
M-shape of Korean women’s labor market
participation graph due to child delivery and
child rearing
The change in Korean women’s labor market
participation rate is presented as M-shape line
graph. In case of data in 2007, women’s labor
market participation between ages 15 to 19
was 8.0%, but it increased gradually and
reached its peak of 68.0% between ages 25 to
29. After marriage, women’s labor market
participation was 53.6% between ages 30 to 34
that decreased by 14.4% due to child delivery
and child rearing. Re-entering the labor
market, women between 55 and 59 years old
indicated higher labor market participation rate
than the average participation rate. This pattern
is similar with the fluctuation of women’s
labor market participation rate in 1985. Two
differences between the present and 1985 are:
the change in age for first diminution in labor
market participation due to child delivery and
child rearing between 25 and 29, and increase
in women’s labor market participation in the
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GSPR 2008 Vol.1
Note: Figures for bachelor's degree holders include colleges,
universities, teacher training colleges and open universities. Figures for
1985 and 1990 include college and teacher training college only.
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Population and Housing
Census Report, Population Projection. & Korea Ministry of Education
& Human Resources Development, Statistical Yearbook of Education.
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Annual Report on the
Economically Active Population.

84
age group older than 29 years of age.
Figure 7. Participation Rate of
Economically Active Women by Age
Women in professional and technical
occupations account for 19.3% of women
workers in 2007
The proportion of women in professional and
technical occupations among employed women
was 19.3%, which is 13.9% increase over 1985.
The proportion of women in professional and
technical occupations was less than 10% by the
early 1990’s but the percentage increased to 11.4%
in 1995, 14.0% in 2000, 17.5% in 2005, and
19.3% in 2007 respectively. Furthermore, in light
of the scale of increase in the professional and
technical workers’ rate of men and women,
women’s increase scale is larger than that of men
except in 1995. The women’s proportion of
professional and technical workers has increased
and reached 26.6% in 2007 except for women’s
great decrease in 1995 because of drastic
increasing scale of men’s proportion in
professional and technical occupations.
<Table 6>
Professional and Technical Workers by Sex
Average monthly wage of women salary
workers in 2007 was 1,839 thousand won,
which was 63.6% of men’s
Korean employed women are suffering not
only from difficulty of reconciling work and
child delivery and child rearing but also from
lower income level than that of men. Although
the average monthly wage of women salary
workers in 2007 increased to 1,839 thousands
won compared with 2000, it was only 63.6%
of men salary workers’ average monthly wage.
The ratio of women’s income against men’s
income has increased from 46.6% in 1985, to
53.4% in 1990, 58.0% in 1995, 62.9% in 2000,
and 63.6% in 2007, but women’s income is
still distinctively lower than men’s income.
Economically Active Population Survey.
Economically Active Population Survey.
1970 3,513 85 2.4 6,104 377 6.2 18.4
1975 4,261 87 2.0 7,431 329 4.4 20.9
1980 5,222 186 3.6 8,462 546 6.5 25.4
1985 5,833 317 5.4 9,137 773 8.5 29.1
1990 7,376 566 7.7 10,709 1,009 9.4 35.9
1995 8,267 939 11.4 12,147 2,407 19.8 28.1
2000 8,769 1,225 14.0 12,387 2,716 21.9 31.1
2005 9,526 1,669 17.5 13,330 3,107 23.3 34.9
2007 9,826 1,900 19.3 13,607 3,296 24.2 36.6
Employed
workers
proportion
among
professional
&technical
workers
Proportion
of
professional
&technical
workers
among
employed
workers
Employed
workers
Profession
al&
Technical
workers
Proportionof
professional
&technical
workers
among
employed
workers
proportio
namong
professio
nal&
technical
workers
Unit : 1,000 persons, %
Year Female Male Women

Figure 8. Average Monthly Wage
4. Korean Women’s Political and
Administrative Participation and
International Comparison of the
Social Status of Korean Women
Women constituted 13.7% of representatives
at the 18th
National Assembly, showing
increase by 0.7% compared to 2004
Political sphere in Korea is one of the sectors
with low participation of women. The
percentage of women representatives in the
18th National Assembly (299 persons) is
13.7% (41 persons) in 2008. It is the highest
proportion of women representatives, though
there has been increase in the number of
women representatives from 1 in 1978, to 6 in
1988, 16 in 2000, 39 in 2004, and 41 in 2008.
In addition, the number of women
representatives in local assemblies has
increased from 0.9% in 1991, to 3.4% in 2002,
and 14.5% in 2006, but the percentage of
women’s participation is still lower than that of
men.
<Table 7>
Women Elected in General and Local
Elections
67.7% who passed the higher civil
examination for foreign affairs were women
in 2007
Recently, Korean women’s administrative
participation is increasing at high ranks. The
percentages of successful women candidates
among public service personnel employment
examination were 67.7% in the higher civil
examination for foreign affairs, 49.0% in the
higher civil examination for national
administration, and 45.5% in the examination
for employment lowest-level officials (9th
grade, administration and public peace). The
comparison between 2007 and 2006 suggests
2.7% and 2.0% decrease in women’s portion in
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GSPR 2008 Vol.1
National Assembly Local Council
Total F % Total F %
1971 204 5 2.5 - - -
1973 146 12 8.2 - - -
1978 154 1 0.6 - - -
1981 276 9 3.3 - - -
1985 276 8 2.9 - - -
1988 299 6 2.0 - - -
1991 - - - 5,169 48 0.9
1992 299 3 1.0 - - -
1995 - - - 5,756 128 2.2
1996 299 9 3.0 - - -
1998 - - - 4,179 97 2.3
2000 273 16 5.9 - - -
2002 - - - 4,167 140 3.4
2004 299 39 13.0 - - -
2006 - - - 3,626 525 14.5
2008 299 41 13.7 - - -
Year
Unit: Person, %
Numberof
women
representatives
Numberof
women
representatives
Source: Korea National Election Commission, Web DB.
Note: Average Monthly Wage=Monthly salary+(Total yearly
bonus÷12).
Source: Korea Ministry of Labor, Survey Report on Wage Structure,
Survey Report on Occupational Wage Survey.

bare examination and examination for
employment lowest-level officials
(administration and public peace) respectively,
and 4.4%, 31.7% and 7.7% of increase in the
higher civil examination for national
administration, the higher civil examination for
foreign affairs, and examination for
employment lower-level officials (7th grade),
administration and public peace) respectively.
Especially, the increasing rate in the higher
civil examination for foreign affairs is drastic.
<Table8 >
Successful Applicant Rate in
Examination for Administrative
Korean GEM 64th
among 93 countries
GDI (Gender-related Development Index)
refers to the indicator which is used for
recognizing the degree of gender equality
though average life expectancy, literacy rate,
school attendance rate, and difference in real
GDP per se between men and women. Korea is
ranked as 26th in GDI among 93 nations in
2007/2008. Nevertheless, Korea was included
in the lowest group as 64th among 93
countries in 2007 in light of GEM which
suggests the degree of gender equality in the
use of resources. GEM in 2007/2008 declined
5 ranks compared with figures in 2005.
According to the increase and decrease of
related indicators, there were 0.4% and 2%
increases in women representatives and
women’s in professional and technical
occupations respectively, but women’s wage to
men’s decreased by 0.08. It is noticeable that
gender equality in Korea in development of
human resources is improved in terms of the
86
Total F % Total F % Total F % Total F % Total F %
2001 233 25.3 30 36.7 991 17.5 531 16.8 2,611 39.5
2002 257 28.4 35 45.7 998 23.9 517 28.4 2,585 50.9
2003 223 31.8 28 35.7 906 21.0 500 23.0 1,587 50.8
2004 198 38.4 20 35.0 1,009 24.3 398 28.1 1,510 47.9
2005 216 44.0 19 52.6 1,001 32.3 575 27.7 1,968 44.9
2006 233 44.6 25 36.0 994 37.7 991 25.4 2,398 47.5
2007 251 49.0 31 67.7 1,011 35.0 641 33.1 2,522 45.5
Year
Unit: Person, %
AdministrationService
Category
ForeignService
5thCategory
JudicialExamination
Admin.&SafetyService7th
Category
Admin.&SafetyService
9th,Category
Source: Korea Ministry of Government Administration, Yearbook of
Ministry of Government Administration, Civil Service Commission,
Korea Ministry of Public Administration and Security.

result from GDI and GEM, but there is no
improvement in the utilization of human
resources.
<Table 9>
Gender-related Development Index
Rank in Korea
<Table 10>
Gender Empowerment Index Rank in
Korea
87
GSPR 2008 Vol.1
Note: GEM member countries – 70 nations in 2003, 78 nations in
2004, 80 nations in 2004, and 93 nations in 2007.
Source: UNDP. Human Development Report (2003, 2005, and 2007).
Note: GDI member counties – 143 nations in 2000, 144 nations in
2005, and 157 nations in 2007.
Source: UNDP. Human Development Report (2000, 2005, and 2007).
Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male
2000 30 76.2 69.0 95.9 99.0 84 94 8,342 18,529 31
2005 27 80.6 73.3 99.9 99.9 87 100 11,698 24,167 28
2007 26 81.5 74.3 99.9 99.9 89 102 12,531 31,476 26
Year GDI Rank
Unit: Person, %
Unit: Rank, Year, $
Life Expectancy at Birth
(years)
Adult Literacy Rate (%)
Combined Gross Enrolment
Ratio for Primary, Secondary
and Tertiary Education (%)
Estimated Earned
Income(PPP US$)
HDI Rank
2003 63 5.9 5 34 0.46
2005 59 13.0 6 39 0.48
2007 64 13.4 8 39 0.40
Year GEM Rank
Seats in parliament held by
women (%)
Female legislators, senior
officials and managers (%)
Female professional and
technical workers (%)
Ratio of estimated female to
male earned income

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